Major issue in Arizona governor’s race: Whether, when schools get extra $317 million

PHOENIX — State courts have ruled that Arizona owes public schools a first payment of more than $300 million for failing to make annual inflation adjustments to base funding as called for by a voter-approved law. Over five years, the bill could be $1.6 billion.

Whether and when schools get that money may depend in large part on who occupies the governor’s office come January.